About the Archive
Every photograph has a story to tell.
The Old Walton Archive
For generations, Putmans Photographers recorded the people, places and events that shaped Walton-on-the-Naze. Today, those photographs form one of the town's most important visual records, preserving memories that might otherwise have been lost.
Putmans Photographers
The business was founded in Walton-on-the-Naze in 1921 by William Francis Putman, known as Frank. It was one of the first photographic businesses in Essex, established at a time when Walton vied with brasher Clacton to attract day-trippers and seaside holidaymakers.
When war broke out, Frank joined the RAF, as did many photographers. His wife, Jessie, continued the business, photographing hundreds of servicemen stationed in the area despite the difficulties of obtaining sufficient photographic materials.
A New Generation
David West joined the firm in 1952, having completed his National Service as an RAF photographer, and Peter Frost joined on leaving school in 1962.
In 1971, David and Peter bought the business and went on to build a reputation as one of the major award-winning photographic studios in the country.
An Award-Winning Studio
Putmans amassed six coveted Kodak Gold Awards for excellence in wedding and portrait photography, as well as countless other awards. Their portrait studio in Naze Park Road was probably the largest and best equipped in East Anglia, with modern electronic flash lighting and multiple backgrounds.
Putmans became part of the fabric of Walton life. The business operated from premises on Walton High Street and from its studio next to the entrance to Willow Caravan Camp, while photographers also worked around the nearby holiday camps.
Generations of visitors will remember having their photographs taken around the camps, often alongside the camp mascots, then returning to the on-site photography hut at the Martello holiday camp the following morning to see whether their picture had appeared in the display window.
Building the Old Walton Archive
Alongside the day-to-day work of the business, Pete Frost spent many years collecting, copying and cataloguing older photographs of Walton-on-the-Naze. Working with David West and many generous contributors, the collection steadily grew into thousands of images recording the town's changing landscape, its people and its history.
Today the archive is organised by place, subject and people, making it easy to explore familiar streets, local landmarks and generations of Walton life.
The Archive Today
The archive has now been rebuilt as a modern, searchable website while retaining the original captions and reference numbers wherever possible.
The aim is to make the collection easier to explore without losing the character of the original archive that Pete created.
Looking to the Future
The Old Walton Archive has now been entrusted to Oh My Naze! in Walton-on-the-Naze, who are responsible for its ongoing preservation, maintenance and development.
The aim is simple: to preserve Pete's remarkable collection, respect the work that went into creating it, and ensure that Walton's photographic history remains accessible for future generations.